We sequenced the whole genome of the T. spelta genotype CSCR6 and assessed its sequences against those of common wheat Chinese Spring.

Genetic variation is the foundation of crop improvement. By comparing genome sequences of a T. spelta accession and one of its derived hexaploid line with the sequences of the international reference genotype Chinese Spring, we detected variants several-fold higher than those present among common wheat (T. aestivum L) genotypes. Further, different from the typical 'V-shaped' pattern of variant distribution often observed along wheat chromosomes, the sequence variation detected in this study was more evenly distributed along the 3B chromosome. These results showed that, although it is believed that the different morphologies between T. spelta and common wheat are due to a small number of major genes, the sequence difference between them, thus the breeding values of T. spelta in enriching the genetic variation of common wheat, are huge.